|  | Conditions Treatments | Hormone Issues

Adrenocortical Deficiency in Menopause

Menopause is a normal physical process in a woman's life, but it can produce uncomfortable symptoms like hot flashes due to a decrease in the hormone estrogen during this period of time. And while the majority of estrogen a woman needs is derived from her ovaries, she does get some from adrenal glands too, specifically the adrenal cortical--or cortex. Therefore, a deficiency in adrenal cortical during menopause can be problematic.

  1. Menopause Defined

    • Menopause is the period in time in which women undergo certain hormonal and physical changes in their bodies. Menstruation and fertility ceases and certain hormone levels (like estrogen) decrease, making women potentially susceptible to uncomfortable and sometimes problematic symptoms like hot flashes, mood swings, sleep problems and even psychological problems like anxiety.

    Adrenal Cortical (cortex) Explained

    • The adrenal glands (there are two) play a role in a woman's hormonal life during menopause. These glands, which sit on top of the kidneys in the upper abdominal area, consist of two parts: the medulla (the center) and the cortex (the outer part).

      The medulla, part of the nervous system, is responsible for making nervous system hormones norepinephrine and epinephrine. And the cortex makes hormones for the rest of the body: cortisol, aldorstone, as well as androgens and estrogens. In addition, it is the cortex that plays a significant role, hormonally, for women during menopause.

    Hormone Production Affected

    • The ovaries, prior to menopause, produce the majority of estrogen needed by women during childbearing years. However, once peri-menopause begins, the ovaries begin to substantially decrease estrogen production. By menopause, women are relying more on the estrogen supplied by the adrenal cortical gland (cortex) instead; therefore, if the adrenal cortical estrogen becomes insufficient, its lower level can intensify any menopausal symptoms already being experienced.

    Deficiency and Menopause

    • A woman's menopausal hot flashes, mood swings, depression, night sweats, chills and palpitations can become more pronounced due to the insufficiency of estrogen and other hormones supplied by the adrenal cortical. This, in turn, can increase sleep problems that may already exist, as well as any psychological symptoms (anxiety, overreacting) that are being experienced as a result of menopause too.

    Deficiency Causes

    • Many things can cause adrenocortical deficiency: adrenal fatigue (brought on by stress, illness, infection, sleep deprivation and trauma), an under activeadrenal gland due to disease (like Addison's disease), and the destruction (or shrinking) of this gland due to cancer, tuberculosis and fungal infection.

    Deficiency Symptoms

    • In addition to intensifying any menopausal symptoms being experienced, an insufficiency of the adrenal cortical also has the potential of producing the following symptoms in menopausal women and all others: fatigue, nausea, vomiting, anxiety, dizziness, depression, weight loss, and lost of energy and appetite.

Hormone Issues - Related Articles